One of the OG sauces on the Friendly Toast’s menu, the strawberry habanero sauce gets taste buds tingling with a combination of spicy and sweet flavors. The menu stalwart uses strawberries and sugar to cut the heat brought by chili flakes and habaneros, incorporating bell peppers and apple cider vinegar to round out the flavor. Dressing up dishes such as the Monte Cristo breakfast staple—made with oatmeal French toast and filled with scrambled eggs, ham, Swiss cheese and Dijon mustard—the sauce also acts as a riff on strawberry jam. As for other pairing options, chef Jarred Bailey says it complements nearly everything: “It also goes great with salty and cheesy items, breakfast foods and—believe it or not—even ice cream sundaes!”

Strawberry Habanero Sauce at the Friendly Toast

YIELD: 2 quarts

INGREDIENTS:
1 1/4 pounds frozen strawberries
1 1/2 red bell peppers, chopped
2 habanero peppers, stemmed
1/2 tablespoon crushed chili flakes
4 cups sugar
3/4 cups apple cider vinegar

PREPARATION: In a heavy-duty stockpot, mix strawberries, red bell peppers and habanero peppers and cook on medium heat for about an hour. Puree that mixture with an immersion blender. Add chili flakes, sugar and apple cider vinegar to the pot. Cook for 10 minutes on medium heat until the sugar has dissolved and sauce has thickened. Let cool and store in a refrigerator for up to seven days.

The Friendly Toast 35 Stanhope St., Boston (617-456-7849); 1 Kendall Square, Cambridge (617-621-1200); thefriendlytoast.com

SAUCE: Passion Fruit Caramel Sauce | Black Garlic and Sweet Miso Tomato Sauce | BBQ sauce | Steak Sauce | Strawberry Habanero Sauce